Engagement Strategies from 10,000 Feet Up

Towers Perrin reported that 21 percent of employees are actively engaged, eight percent are fully engaged and 71 percent fall into two categories: partially engaged or disenchanted. The Gallup Poll [PDF] indicated that lost productivity of actively disengaged employees costs the US economy $350 billion annually.

Demographics of Engagement

Engagement levels vary according to age and tenure, according to a Blessing White 2011 employee engagement report. Older workers and workers in positions of authority and power are more engaged. Partially engaged or disengaged employees can impact morale, productivity, create turnover and decrease commitment and innovation.

Benefits of Engaged Employees

Engaged employees are more productive, provide better customer service and are committed to the company. With engaged employees, turnover is reduced, resulting in reduced recruiting and training costs. Overall, having an engaged workforce translates into commitment and an organization with a positive morale that works toward success.

How to Engage Your Workforce

1. Collaboration and Management

Increasing employee engagement can be accomplished through collaboration with management and human resources. The first step to take is to ensure employees have trust in and positive working relationships with senior managers and direct supervisors. This can be achieved by creating a culture of openness and participation.

2. Mission, Meaning and Ownership

Keeping the mission of the organization visible for everyone to see and holding retreats involving all employees can promote employee engagement. In addition, companies need to ensure that employees have meaningful work and a sense of ownership.

3. Connections and Recognition

The ability to network, options for career development, and opportunities to engage in company gatherings can enhance employee engagement. Offer mentoring to employees who are interested in developing new skills for future opportunities. Recognizing employees and rewarding excellence in service are more ways to gain commitment.

4. Address the Challenges

Flexible work schedules to assist employees with work/life balance and creating wellness programs are other ways to address challenges that employees face.

5. Communication

Lastly, communication is key to employee engagement. Communication from senior leaders as to how the company is doing, involving employees and giving feedback are all part of a communication plan.

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Diane L. Dunton M.S., president of Potential Released Consulting Services since 1996, has over 25 years of business and HR experience. Diane has received specialized training with National Training Labs, the Gestalt Institute, Center for Creative Leadership, the University of Michigan's Organizational Career Development and the Center for Reengineering Leadership programs. She has developed programs for over 25,000 employees and leads more than 20 workshops annually offering executive coaching, professional individual coaching and programs on leadership and strategic planning. She has appeared before conferences of up to 9,000 participants and her work has appeared in both U.K. and U.S. management publications, including the Society for Training and Development's Team and Organizational Development Sourcebooks (2003-2006).Learn more about Diane at PotentialReleased.com.